Ace spinner Rashid Khan became the highest wicket-taker in T20Is as he helped Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by 38 runs in Sharjah on Monday.

The wily 26-year-old took three for 21 to reach 165 wickets in his 98th T20I, derailing UAE from 90 for two to 150 for eight in 20 overs after setting the side 189 to win in the tri-series match.

Afghanistan’s total of 188 for four was built around a brilliant 40-ball 63 from Ibrahim Zadran and a 40-ball 54 by Sediqullah Atal as they came back after losing to Pakistan in the first game.

Rashid Khan now has 165 wickets from 98 T20Is for Afghanistan.
| Photo Credit:
AFP

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem scared Afghanistan with a rapid-fire 37-ball 67, comprising six maximums and four boundaries in his 23rd T20I half-century.

But Waseem’s departure sparked a collapse as Rashid dismissed Ethan D’Souza (12), Asif Khan (one) and Dhruv Parashar (one) to overhaul New Zealand pacer Tim Southee’s T20I record of 164 wickets in 126 games.

Afghanistan owed its total to Zadran and Atal as they added 84 for the second wicket after being put in to bat. Atal’s maiden T20I fifty had four boundaries and three sixes, while Zadran knocked four sixes and three hits to the rope.

Karim Janat hit two sixes and as many boundaries in his 10-ball 23 not out while Azmatullah Omarzai’s undefeated 12-ball 20 contained two sixes. Muhammad Rohid and Saghir Khan grabbed two wickets apiece for UAE.

Pakistan, which won both its matches in the tri-series, faces Afghanistan on Tuesday. All three teams play each other twice with the top two playing the September 7 final.

Published on Sep 02, 2025